Whidbey News-Times

Outlying Field practice vital to pilot safety | Letters

I have read the letters and articles in your paper about Outlying Field and I am deeply troubled by the lack of caring given to the pilots of those jets that make the noise being complained about.

It’s as though the jets are soulless machines out to annoy us. I live under the flight path too.

Nowhere do I read that the life of a person is at stake here. Those pilots need to practice.

Do any of the complainers understand what it is like to try to safely land on an aircraft carrier at night?

I know I can’t properly describe what they are up against. But I do know that not only the pilot’s life is at risk, all the personnel on the flight deck could be killed or at least terribly wounded if the jet crashed on the deck, never mind endangering the 5,000-plus personnel on and below decks if that jet hit the carrier.

The pilot needs to practice coming in to land, hitting a specific spot on the carrier deck in order to engage the arresting wire that would bring them safely to a stop.

Thus they need the “touch and go” practice at OLF.

Now I understand about noise pollution.

There is a very good and inexpensive solution: ear plugs.

Since moving may not be an option for some, they work very well. They may be inconvenient, but what is more important, your comfort or the life of another?